Winged capsule

Abstract

A winged capsule (10) including a capsule (14) having a bottom wall (143) and tubular wall (141) extending from the bottom wall, the tubular wall and the bottom wall defining an inner space adapted to contain a substance (17), and the bottom wall having an aperture (144) adapted to deliver the substance to the animal; and a capsule retainer (18) including a central wing portion (180) connected to the capsule and wings (182) connected to and extending laterally from the central wing portion along a wing plane, the central wing portion having a maximum central width (Wt), wherein each of the wings has a distal end having a distal width and an Intermediate portion between the distal end and the central wing portion, the intermediate portion having a width narrowing from a width adjacent the central wing portion to the distal width.

1 . A winged capsule for delivery of a substance to an animal, the winged capsule comprising:
 a capsule having a bottom wall and a tubular wall extending from the bottom wall, the tubular wall and the bottom wall defining an inner space adapted to contain the substance, and the bottom wall having an aperture adapted to deliver the substance to the animal; and   a capsule retainer including a central wing portion connected to the capsule and wings connected to and extending laterally from the central wing portion along a wing plane, the central wing portion having a maximum central width,   wherein each of the wings has a distal end having a distal width and an intermediate section between the distal end and the central wing portion, the intermediate section having a width narrowing from a width adjacent the central wing portion to the distal width.   
     
     
         2 . The winged capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule has an outer cross-section width measured perpendicularly to a longitudinal extent of the wings, wherein the maximum central width is at least 60% of the outer cross-section width of the capsule. 
     
     
         3 . The winged capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule retainer includes a localized flexure area within the central wing portion of the capsule retainer. 
     
     
         4 . The winged capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule retainer comprises a transverse rib in the central wing portion, and extending distally from the transverse rib along the wing plane, lateral edge ribs and an intermediate longitudinal rib between the lateral edge ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The winged capsule of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the lateral edge ribs and the intermediate longitudinal rib comprises a notch within the central wing portion. 
     
     
         6 . The winged capsule of  claim 4 , wherein the central wing portion comprises a localized flexure area. 
     
     
         7 . The winged capsule of  claim 6 , wherein the localized flexure area comprises reduced height rib portions of the lateral edge ribs and/or the intermediate longitudinal rib. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The winged capsule of  claim 6 , wherein the lateral edge ribs and the intermediate longitudinal ribs extend distally from the localized flexure area. 
     
     
         11 . The winged capsule of  claim 1 , wherein the central wing portion comprises a transverse rib and the transverse rib includes a cavity, a width of the transverse rib being greater than a diameter of the cavity. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The winged capsule of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the capsule has a top portion adjacent a bottom portion, the bottom portion including the bottom wall, the bottom wall having a flat surface section encircling the aperture and having a first thickness, a rounded circumferential edge surface, and a reinforcement section between the flat surface section and the rounded radial edge surface, the reinforcement section having a second thickness greater than the first thickness. 
     
     
         15 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The winged capsule of any one of  claims 1  to  13 , wherein the capsule retainer comprises a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, lateral edge ribs and intermediate longitudinal ribs extending from the top surface, and bottom ribs extending from the bottom surface. 
     
     
         27 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A winged capsule for delivery of a substance to an animal, the winged capsule comprising:
 a capsule having a bottom wall and a tubular wall extending from the bottom wall, the tubular wall and the bottom wall defining an inner space adapted to contain the substance, and the bottom wall having an aperture adapted to deliver the substance to the animal; and   a capsule retainer including a central wing portion connected to the capsule and wings connected to and extending laterally from the central wing portion along a wing plane, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, lateral edge ribs and intermediate longitudinal ribs extending from the top surface, and bottom ribs extending from the bottom surface.   
     
     
         30 . The winged capsule of  claim 29 , wherein the bottom ribs are shorter than the lateral edge ribs. 
     
     
         31 . The winged capsule of  claim 30 , wherein the bottom ribs are thicker than the lateral edge ribs. 
     
     
         32 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A winged capsule for delivery of a substance to an animal, the winged capsule comprising:
 a capsule having a bottom wall and a tubular wall extending from the bottom wall, the tubular wall and the bottom wall defining an inner space adapted to contain the substance, and the bottom wall having an aperture adapted to deliver the substance to the animal; and   a capsule retainer including a central wing portion connected to the capsule and wings connected to and extending laterally from the central wing portion along a wing plane, a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and lateral edge ribs and intermediate longitudinal ribs extending from the top surface,   wherein the capsule has a top portion adjacent a bottom portion, the bottom portion including the bottom wall, the bottom wall having a flat surface section encircling the aperture and having a first thickness, a rounded circumferential edge surface, and a reinforcement section between the flat surface section and the rounded radial edge surface, the reinforcement section having a second thickness greater than the first thickness.   
     
     
         45 . The winged capsule of  claim 44 , wherein the flat surface section comprises an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and wherein the reinforcement section comprises a tapered protrusion extending distally from the outer surface. 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . The winged capsule of  claim 45 , wherein the tapered protrusion comprises spaced outwardly extending ribs. 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The winged capsule of  claim 44 , wherein the flat surface section comprises an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, and wherein the reinforcement section comprises a radial protrusion extending proximally from the inner surface. 
     
     
         50 . The winged capsule of  claim 49 , wherein the radial protrusion extending proximally from the inner surface comprises a first section having the second thickness and a second section extending radially outwardly from the first section and having a third thickness. 
     
     
         51 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . The winged capsule of  claim 50 , wherein the third thickness decreases radially outwardly. 
     
     
         54 - 55 . (canceled)